2.5. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method

Cell proliferation in different groups was evaluated by the CCK-8 method. Cells (1 × 10⁴ cells/well) were seeded into 96-well plates in the light of the instructions of CCK-8 kits (Beyotime Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China) with 10 μL of CCK-8 solution supplemented into each well at 37°C with 5% CO₂ and 95% humidity. Cell proliferation was measured using the CCK-8 method as the optical density at the wavelength of 450 nm was detected using a microplate reader (Bio-Rad 680, Hercules, CA, USA) during the exposure.